From Middle English many, mani, moni, from Old English maniġ, moniġ, maneġ (“many”), from Proto-West Germanic *manag, from Proto-Germanic *managaz (“many; much”), from Proto-Indo-European *menegʰ-, *mengʰ- (“many, sufficient”) or Proto-Indo-European *méǵh₂- (“big, great”).
Cognates
Cognate with Scots mony (“many”), Yola many (“many”), North Frisian manag, manig, mäning (“many”), Alemannic German meng (“many”), Central Franconian mannich, männich (“many”), Dutch menig (“many”), German manch (“many, some”), Low German männich, männig (“many”), Luxembourgish muench, munch, munnech (“many”), Danish mangen (“many”), Faroese mangur (“many”), Icelandic margur (“many”), Norwegian Bokmål and Norwegian Nynorsk mang, mange (“many”), Swedish mången (“many”), Gothic 𐌼𐌰𐌽𐌰𐌲𐍃 (manags, “many; much”), French maint (“many”); also Cornish menowgh (“frequent, often”), Irish minic (“frequently, often”), Manx mennick (“frequent, often”), Scottish Gaelic minig (“frequent”), Welsh mynych (“frequent, often”), Belarusian мно́га (mnóha, “many; much”), Bulgarian and Russian мно́го (mnógo, “many; much”), Czech mnohý (“many, numerous”), Macedonian мно́гу (mnógu, “very; many; much”), Polish mnogi (“numerous; plural”), Serbo-Croatian мно̏гӣ, mnȍgī (“many; much, long; large, numerous”), Ukrainian мно́гий (mnóhyj, “many, multiple”).
The noun is from Middle English manye, *menye, from Old English manigeo, menigu (“company, multitude, host”), from Proto-West Germanic *managu, *managī, from Proto-Germanic *managō, *managį̄ (“multitude”), from the same root as the determiner. Cognate with Middle Low German menige, menie, menje (“multitude”), Russian много (mnogo), Serbo-Croatian mnogo.
Meanings
Existing in large number; numerous.
Let’s take these fears about a rich, strong China to their logical extreme. The U.S. and Chinese governments are always disagreeing—about trade, foreign policy, the environment. Someday the disagreement could be severe. Taiwan, Tibet, North Korea, Iran—the possibilities are many, though Taiwan always heads the list. 2008 January/February, James Fallows, “The $1.4 Trillion Question”, in The Atlantic Monthly:
From Middle English many, mani, moni, from Old English maniġ, moniġ, maneġ (“many”), from Proto-West Germanic *manag, from Proto-Germanic *managaz (“many; much”), from Proto-Indo-European *menegʰ-, *mengʰ- (“many, sufficient”) or Proto-Indo-European *méǵh₂- (“big, great”).
Cognates
Cognate with Scots mony (“many”), Yola many (“many”), North Frisian manag, manig, mäning (“many”), Alemannic German meng (“many”), Central Franconian mannich, männich (“many”), Dutch menig (“many”), German manch (“many, some”), Low German männich, männig (“many”), Luxembourgish muench, munch, munnech (“many”), Danish mangen (“many”), Faroese mangur (“many”), Icelandic margur (“many”), Norwegian Bokmål and Norwegian Nynorsk mang, mange (“many”), Swedish mången (“many”), Gothic 𐌼𐌰𐌽𐌰𐌲𐍃 (manags, “many; much”), French maint (“many”); also Cornish menowgh (“frequent, often”), Irish minic (“frequently, often”), Manx mennick (“frequent, often”), Scottish Gaelic minig (“frequent”), Welsh mynych (“frequent, often”), Belarusian мно́га (mnóha, “many; much”), Bulgarian and Russian мно́го (mnógo, “many; much”), Czech mnohý (“many, numerous”), Macedonian мно́гу (mnógu, “very; many; much”), Polish mnogi (“numerous; plural”), Serbo-Croatian мно̏гӣ, mnȍgī (“many; much, long; large, numerous”), Ukrainian мно́гий (mnóhyj, “many, multiple”).
The noun is from Middle English manye, *menye, from Old English manigeo, menigu (“company, multitude, host”), from Proto-West Germanic *managu, *managī, from Proto-Germanic *managō, *managį̄ (“multitude”), from the same root as the determiner. Cognate with Middle Low German menige, menie, menje (“multitude”), Russian много (mnogo), Serbo-Croatian mnogo.
Meanings
before a countable noun: A large, indefinite number of.
There are very many different ways to cook a meal.
Not many such people enjoyed playing chess.
I did it in a moment of conceit and folly—one of my many such moments—one of my many such hours—years. 1864–65, Charles Dickens, chapter 15, in Our Mutual Friend:
Investors face a quandary. Cash offers a return of virtually zero in many developed countries; government-bond yields may have risen in recent weeks but they are still unattractive. Equities have suffered two big bear markets since 2000 and are wobbling again. It is hardly surprising that pension funds, insurers and endowments are searching for new sources of return. 2013 July 6, “The rise of smart beta”, in The Economist, volume 408, number 8843, page 68:
We spent many hours and days training, but running clubs boast many hundreds of faster members.
Thou shalt be a father of many nations. 1611, The Holy Bible, […] (King James Version), London: […] Robert Barker, […], →OCLC, Genesis 17:4:
before a countable noun: (in combinations such as 'as many', 'so many', 'this many') Used to indicate, demonstrate or compare the number of people or things.
We don't need this many bananas. Put some back.
I don't have as many friends as my sister does.
There may be as many as ten million species of insect.
be бага́та (an indefinite large number of) · ka ბევრი (an indefinite large number of) · frr fuul (an indefinite large number of) · ln ebelé (an indefinite large number of) · kbd ӏэджэ (an indefinite large number of) · xdq дахъ (an indefinite large number of) · war da-mo (an indefinite large number of) · egy aSA:Z2 (an indefinite large number of) · ro mulți (an indefinite large number of) · vo mödik (an indefinite large number of) · ga a lán (an indefinite large number of) · vi lắm (an indefinite large number of) · tr fazla (an indefinite large number of) · be мно́гія (an indefinite large number of) · eo multaj (an indefinite large number of) · ja 多い (an indefinite large number of) · be мно́га (an indefinite large number of) · ur زیادہ (an indefinite large number of) · sms mäŋgg (an indefinite large number of) · ig ìmìlìkiti (an indefinite large number of) · non margr (an indefinite large number of) · sk veľa (an indefinite large number of) · cmn 許多 /许多 (an indefinite large number of) · th มาก (an indefinite large number of) · ba күп (an indefinite large number of) · sk mnohý (an indefinite large number of) · sk mnohé (an indefinite large number of) · izh isost (an indefinite large number of) · txb māka (an indefinite large number of) · wuu 多 (an indefinite large number of) · es muchas (an indefinite large number of) · mn олон (an indefinite large number of) · ast munchos (an indefinite large number of) · hu sok (an indefinite large number of) · th ขนัด (an indefinite large number of) · ktu mingi (an indefinite large number of) · ps زيات (an indefinite large number of) · de viele (an indefinite large number of) · tr pek çok (an indefinite large number of) · uz talay (an indefinite large number of) · zea vee (an indefinite large number of) · cmn 很多 (an indefinite large number of) · sga imdae (an indefinite large number of) · jv ꦲꦏꦺꦃ (an indefinite large number of) · an muitos (an indefinite large number of) · pl dużo (an indefinite large number of) · dng дуә (an indefinite large number of) · kg mingi (an indefinite large number of) · pl wiele (an indefinite large number of) · srn furu (an indefinite large number of) · bcl kadakol (an indefinite large number of) · ga mórán (an indefinite large number of) · fo mangur (an indefinite large number of) · et palju (an indefinite large number of) · izh ussia (an indefinite large number of) · fr plusieurs (an indefinite large number of) · th หลาย (an indefinite large number of) · or ବହୁ (an indefinite large number of) · lo ຫຼາຍ (an indefinite large number of) · ar كَثِير (an indefinite large number of) · ang feolo (an indefinite large number of) · mnp 濟 /济 (an indefinite large number of) · he הַרְבֵּה (an indefinite large number of) · xto māk (an indefinite large number of) · it molti (an indefinite large number of) · ps ډېر (an indefinite large number of) · io multa (an indefinite large number of) · cmn 多 (an indefinite large number of) · fa بسیار (an indefinite large number of) · mwl muitas (an indefinite large number of) · bkt ebelé (an indefinite large number of) · cmn 好多 (an indefinite large number of) · ms banyak (an indefinite large number of) · ak horow (an indefinite large number of) · ady ӏаджэ (an indefinite large number of) · af baie (an indefinite large number of) · pt muitas (an indefinite large number of) · sco mony (an indefinite large number of) · bcl dakol (an indefinite large number of) · am ብዙ (an indefinite large number of) · ro multe (an indefinite large number of) · ast munches (an indefinite large number of) · ms ramai (an indefinite large number of) · hi बहुत (an indefinite large number of) · grc πολλά (an indefinite large number of) · hnn mayamo (an indefinite large number of) · sq shumë (an indefinite large number of) · my များ (an indefinite large number of) · ur بہت (an indefinite large number of) · fr beaucoup de (an indefinite large number of) · he רַבִּים (an indefinite large number of) · nl vele (an indefinite large number of) · myp xaíbái (an indefinite large number of) · yi אַ סך (an indefinite large number of) · id banyak (an indefinite large number of) · fy folle (an indefinite large number of) · sw -ingi (an indefinite large number of) · no mange (an indefinite large number of) · sh mnogo (an indefinite large number of) · my များကြီး (an indefinite large number of) · za lai (an indefinite large number of) · la multi (an indefinite large number of) · hi बहु (an indefinite large number of) · sk mnoho (an indefinite large number of) · lt daugelis (an indefinite large number of) · ln mingi (an indefinite large number of) · cy llawer (an indefinite large number of) · gd iomadh (an indefinite large number of) · izh äijä (an indefinite large number of) · uk чима́ло (an indefinite large number of) · nv łání (an indefinite large number of) · sk mnohá (an indefinite large number of) · haw he nui (an indefinite large number of) · ca moltes (an indefinite large number of) · vi nhiều (an indefinite large number of) · lv daudz (an indefinite large number of) · gl muitos (an indefinite large number of) · lv daudzi (an indefinite large number of) · ce дукха (an indefinite large number of) · nds männigene (an indefinite large number of) · ht anpil (an indefinite large number of) · nl menig (an indefinite large number of) · jv ꦏꦛꦃ (an indefinite large number of) · dsb wjele (an indefinite large number of) · kbd куэд (an indefinite large number of) · ckb زۆر (an indefinite large number of) · ngh kebeke (an indefinite large number of) · yue 好多 (an indefinite large number of) · chr ᎤᎪᏗᏗ (an indefinite large number of) · fa خیلی (an indefinite large number of) · zdj -indji (an indefinite large number of) · gl moitos (an indefinite large number of) · dlm muolt (an indefinite large number of) · ang feola (an indefinite large number of) · te చాలా (an indefinite large number of) · nds vęl (an indefinite large number of) · nv tʼóó ahayóí (an indefinite large number of) · cs mnoho (an indefinite large number of) · bg мно́го (an indefinite large number of) · nv ląʼí (an indefinite large number of) · sh многи (an indefinite large number of) · jv akèh (an indefinite large number of) · sh много (an indefinite large number of) · nds männige (an indefinite large number of) · fr de nombreux (an indefinite large number of) · hnn adok (an indefinite large number of) · got 𐌼𐌰𐌽𐌰𐌲𐍃 (an indefinite large number of) · inh дуккха (an indefinite large number of) · sah элбэх (an indefinite large number of) · izh moni (an indefinite large number of) · ml അനേകം (an indefinite large number of) · nds männigen (an indefinite large number of) · af menige (an indefinite large number of) · az çox (an indefinite large number of) · ko 많은 (an indefinite large number of) · es muchos (an indefinite large number of) · hi अधिक (an indefinite large number of) · pdt väl (an indefinite large number of) · mwl muitos (an indefinite large number of) · za haujlai (an indefinite large number of) · dlm mult (an indefinite large number of) · nds vęle (an indefinite large number of) · kac law (an indefinite large number of) · th รุ่ม (an indefinite large number of) · ja 沢山 (an indefinite large number of) · wa bråmint des (an indefinite large number of) · grc πολλαί (an indefinite large number of) · sh mnogi (an indefinite large number of) · it un gran numero di (an indefinite large number of) · be шмат (an indefinite large number of) · ru мно́гий (an indefinite large number of) · uk бага́то (an indefinite large number of) · ta பல (an indefinite large number of) · fi see also Thesaurus:runsaasti (an indefinite large number of) · gez ብዙኅ (an indefinite large number of) · cdo 濟 /济 (an indefinite large number of) · ki -ingĩ (an indefinite large number of) · acw كَثير (an indefinite large number of) · sk mnohí (an indefinite large number of) · sl veliko (an indefinite large number of) · xsr མང་མུ (an indefinite large number of) · lt daug (an indefinite large number of) · lij molto (an indefinite large number of) · izh paljo (an indefinite large number of) · fy protte (an indefinite large number of) · nds männigein (an indefinite large number of) · sv många (an indefinite large number of) · gl moitas (an indefinite large number of) · ka მრავალი (an indefinite large number of) · sah үгүс (an indefinite large number of) · da mangen (an indefinite large number of) · tr birçok (an indefinite large number of) · rue много (an indefinite large number of) · fa زیاد (an indefinite large number of) · hak 多 (an indefinite large number of) · an muitas (an indefinite large number of) · ban liu (an indefinite large number of) · nv ahayóí (an indefinite large number of) · sa बहु (an indefinite large number of) · da mange (an indefinite large number of) · swb -engi (an indefinite large number of) · gl muitas (an indefinite large number of) · pt muitos (an indefinite large number of) · is margur (an indefinite large number of) · chr ᏥᏈᏍᏗ (an indefinite large number of) · tr çok (an indefinite large number of) · nds männigeine (an indefinite large number of) · hi ज़्यादा (an indefinite large number of) · sga il (an indefinite large number of) · dlg үгүс (an indefinite large number of) · ta நிறைய (an indefinite large number of) · ln míngi (an indefinite large number of) · arz كتير (an indefinite large number of) · grc πολλοί (an indefinite large number of) · ckb گەلێک (an indefinite large number of) · tl marami (an indefinite large number of) · wyi woort-tin-do (an indefinite large number of) · nv łą́ (an indefinite large number of) · fo nógvur (an indefinite large number of) · ca molts (an indefinite large number of) · el πολλοί (an indefinite large number of) · th เยอะ (an indefinite large number of) · kmr gelek (an indefinite large number of) · sk mnohé (an indefinite large number of) · bo མང་པོ (an indefinite large number of) · fa چندین (an indefinite large number of) · bg доста (an indefinite large number of) · jv kathah (an indefinite large number of) · fi monta (an indefinite large number of) · mk многу (an indefinite large number of) · hy բազում (an indefinite large number of) · su seueur (an indefinite large number of) · ak ahorow (an indefinite large number of) · fi moni (an indefinite large number of) · bg бая (an indefinite large number of) · ru мно́го (an indefinite large number of) · ttj -ingi (an indefinite large number of) · ja 多くの (an indefinite large number of) · hy շատ (an indefinite large number of) · oc fòrça (an indefinite large number of) · gld эгди (an indefinite large number of) · ban akéh (an indefinite large number of) · ru мно́гие (an indefinite large number of) · nl veel (an indefinite large number of) · ia multe (an indefinite large number of) · nan-hbl 濟 /济 (an indefinite large number of) · km ច្រើន (an indefinite large number of)
From Middle English many, mani, moni, from Old English maniġ, moniġ, maneġ (“many”), from Proto-West Germanic *manag, from Proto-Germanic *managaz (“many; much”), from Proto-Indo-European *menegʰ-, *mengʰ- (“many, sufficient”) or Proto-Indo-European *méǵh₂- (“big, great”).
Cognates
Cognate with Scots mony (“many”), Yola many (“many”), North Frisian manag, manig, mäning (“many”), Alemannic German meng (“many”), Central Franconian mannich, männich (“many”), Dutch menig (“many”), German manch (“many, some”), Low German männich, männig (“many”), Luxembourgish muench, munch, munnech (“many”), Danish mangen (“many”), Faroese mangur (“many”), Icelandic margur (“many”), Norwegian Bokmål and Norwegian Nynorsk mang, mange (“many”), Swedish mången (“many”), Gothic 𐌼𐌰𐌽𐌰𐌲𐍃 (manags, “many; much”), French maint (“many”); also Cornish menowgh (“frequent, often”), Irish minic (“frequently, often”), Manx mennick (“frequent, often”), Scottish Gaelic minig (“frequent”), Welsh mynych (“frequent, often”), Belarusian мно́га (mnóha, “many; much”), Bulgarian and Russian мно́го (mnógo, “many; much”), Czech mnohý (“many, numerous”), Macedonian мно́гу (mnógu, “very; many; much”), Polish mnogi (“numerous; plural”), Serbo-Croatian мно̏гӣ, mnȍgī (“many; much, long; large, numerous”), Ukrainian мно́гий (mnóhyj, “many, multiple”).
The noun is from Middle English manye, *menye, from Old English manigeo, menigu (“company, multitude, host”), from Proto-West Germanic *managu, *managī, from Proto-Germanic *managō, *managį̄ (“multitude”), from the same root as the determiner. Cognate with Middle Low German menige, menie, menje (“multitude”), Russian много (mnogo), Serbo-Croatian mnogo.
Meanings
A multitude; a great aggregate; a mass of people; the generality; the common herd.
Democracy must balance the rights of the few against the will of the many.
A considerable number.
I know that my mother cried a many of times from decisions I made. 2005, Florence Dyer, A Mother's Cry!: Touches the Very Heart of God, page 22:
fi monet (a collective mass of people) · eo multaj (a collective mass of people) · hu sokak (a collective mass of people) · ro mulțime (a collective mass of people) · mk мноштво (a collective mass of people) · pt multidão (a collective mass of people) · fr le plus grand nombre (a collective mass of people) · hu sokan (a collective mass of people) · nl menigte (a collective mass of people) · bg множество (a collective mass of people) · ru мно́гие (a collective mass of people) · ps ډېر (a collective mass of people) · pt massa (a collective mass of people) · bg многото (a collective mass of people) · sw wengi (a collective mass of people) · mk многумина (a collective mass of people)
From Middle English many, mani, moni, from Old English maniġ, moniġ, maneġ (“many”), from Proto-West Germanic *manag, from Proto-Germanic *managaz (“many; much”), from Proto-Indo-European *menegʰ-, *mengʰ- (“many, sufficient”) or Proto-Indo-European *méǵh₂- (“big, great”).
Cognates
Cognate with Scots mony (“many”), Yola many (“many”), North Frisian manag, manig, mäning (“many”), Alemannic German meng (“many”), Central Franconian mannich, männich (“many”), Dutch menig (“many”), German manch (“many, some”), Low German männich, männig (“many”), Luxembourgish muench, munch, munnech (“many”), Danish mangen (“many”), Faroese mangur (“many”), Icelandic margur (“many”), Norwegian Bokmål and Norwegian Nynorsk mang, mange (“many”), Swedish mången (“many”), Gothic 𐌼𐌰𐌽𐌰𐌲𐍃 (manags, “many; much”), French maint (“many”); also Cornish menowgh (“frequent, often”), Irish minic (“frequently, often”), Manx mennick (“frequent, often”), Scottish Gaelic minig (“frequent”), Welsh mynych (“frequent, often”), Belarusian мно́га (mnóha, “many; much”), Bulgarian and Russian мно́го (mnógo, “many; much”), Czech mnohý (“many, numerous”), Macedonian мно́гу (mnógu, “very; many; much”), Polish mnogi (“numerous; plural”), Serbo-Croatian мно̏гӣ, mnȍgī (“many; much, long; large, numerous”), Ukrainian мно́гий (mnóhyj, “many, multiple”).
The noun is from Middle English manye, *menye, from Old English manigeo, menigu (“company, multitude, host”), from Proto-West Germanic *managu, *managī, from Proto-Germanic *managō, *managį̄ (“multitude”), from the same root as the determiner. Cognate with Middle Low German menige, menie, menje (“multitude”), Russian много (mnogo), Serbo-Croatian mnogo.
Meanings
A large, indefinite number of people or things.
Many are called, but few are chosen.
The big houses, and there are a good many of them, lie for the most part in what may be called by courtesy the valleys. You catch a glimpse of them sometimes at a little distance from the [railway] line, which seems to have shown some ingenuity in avoiding them,[…]. 1909 September 9, Archibald Marshall [pseudonym; Arthur Hammond Marshall], chapter III, in The Squire’s Daughter, London: Methuen & Co. […], →OCLC:
By some paradoxical evolution rancour and intolerance have been established in the vanguard of primitive Christianity. Mrs. Spoker, in common with many of the stricter disciples of righteousness, was as inclement in demeanour as she was cadaverous in aspect. 1921, Ben Travers, chapter 4, in A Cuckoo in the Nest, Garden City, N.Y.: Doubleday, Page & Company, published 1925, →OCLC:
Forasmuch as many have taken in hand to set forth in order a declaration of those things which are most surely believed among us... 1611, The Holy Bible, […] (King James Version), London: […] Robert Barker, […], →OCLC, Luke 1:1:
fi monet (an indefinite large number of people or things) · ru мно́гие (an indefinite large number of people or things) · ps ډېر (an indefinite large number of people or things) · bg много (an indefinite large number of people or things) · nl velen (an indefinite large number of people or things) · ro mulți (an indefinite large number of people or things) · hu sok (an indefinite large number of people or things) · mk мноштво (an indefinite large number of people or things) · ar متعدد (an indefinite large number of people or things) · mk многумина (an indefinite large number of people or things) · da mange (an indefinite large number of people or things) · iso ibuobu (an indefinite large number of people or things) · fr un grand nombre (an indefinite large number of people or things) · it molti (an indefinite large number of people or things) · eo multaj (an indefinite large number of people or things) · sw wengi (an indefinite large number of people or things) · bn অনেক (an indefinite large number of people or things) · za geijlai (an indefinite large number of people or things) · ru мно́гое (an indefinite large number of people or things) · nl veel (an indefinite large number of people or things) · am ብዙ (an indefinite large number of people or things) · ar كَثِير (an indefinite large number of people or things) · fr beaucoup (an indefinite large number of people or things) · za geij (an indefinite large number of people or things) · es muchos (an indefinite large number of people or things)